sospenders life vest

ken · Post by **ken** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:20 pm

I had a big suprise this week while

putting on my life vest. The co2 bottle had came unscrewed and fell on the floor of the boat. I plan on checking the bottle from now on and suggest you do the same as I doubt it would function well when in a loose position.

Team Fugowee · Post by **Team Fugowee** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:15 pm

A good reason to wear a real life jacket.

TomAtkeson · Post by **TomAtkeson** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:55 pm

You should check any type of life jacket to make sure it is in good working order. This goes for standard life jackets ... make sure there are no rips and that the nylon has not dry rot. Make sure the buckles and zippers all work.

JohnnyG1 · Post by **JohnnyG1** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:09 pm

This might be a good time to test if you life vest if it keeps you a float with your winter gear on. My old vest did not when I tested it. Better to be safe than sorry.

mr.bass91 · Post by **mr.bass91** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 11:49 am

I had an incident as well with an inflatable vest which has caused me to lose faith in them. A couple months ago I went fishing in the evening in the delta by myself. I used to never wear a life vest when fishing by myself but ever since I got a automatic inflatable from BPS a couple years ago I wear it. I have had the vest a couple years and have not changed the CO2 cartridge but Even though the indicator was still green I was thinking I should pretty soon. To make a long story short that evening I lost my footing and fell in the water. First time this has ever happened to me in probably a couple hundred trips over the last 20 years. It happened so fast and the next thing I knew I was climbing back in the boat after doing a header in the drink. After getting back in I realized that the vest did not go off and thank God I didn't really need it to but what if I did I would have been screwed. After falling into the water with the vest the indicator is now red but was not before. I was in Bass Pro a couple weeks back and I talked to a guy in their marine dept about it. He basically told me that sucked and I should get a hold of someone at Mustang Survival about the issue. The vest is a Bass Pro branded automatic vest but they are manufactured by Mustang. I plan on talking to the manager at bass pro about it and if he does not take care of the issue I will contact mustang. I don't know if I have enough faith in these vests to wear one when fishing this winter by myself.

TomAtkeson · Post by **TomAtkeson** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 4:33 am

I have activated many inflatable life jackets filming boating safety public service announcements for the Coast Guard over the last 4 years and have never seen one fail to go off. That being said, did you check the CO2 bottle to make sure it was properly and tightly screwed down? After the event did you check to see if the manual release inflated the PFD? I'm not pointing fingers but would hate for someone to quit using them for the wrong reasons.

I personally check mine on and off the job prior to leaving the dock before and after every trip to ensure everything is ready to go. I do it because my life may depend on it.

Chaozu · Post by **Chaozu** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:44 am

I have the sospenders life jacket and didn't realize when I bought it that the CO2 cartridge is not screwed into the inflating device. I wore the jacket for a year and it was never charged! Just took it out of the package, threw it on and went fishin. I check it one day just to make sure I didn't need to change the CO2, found out I didn't need to change it as it was still brand new! Learned a little lesson there.

jimmy87 · Post by **jimmy87** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:09 am

I went back to wearing the regular life jackets.
In the winter I wear the mustang jacket. That thing is pretty nice.
http://www.lfsmarineoutdoor.com/scripts ... roduct=193

It is pretty comfortable. I wore it around for a while at home to the store and things like that. After a day or 2 it became really comfortable just like wearing a coat.
I then got the matching bibbs. Those are a bit bulky in size but again I got use to wearing them fast. They are also a floatation device.
The nice thing is they are suppose to protect against hypothermia.

I do not care for checking to see if my life vest is armed or not.
Rather I just want to remember to wear the thing.
I had the suspenders set off in the back of my truck shell. I suspect from heat because it was summer time?

ChuckP · Post by **ChuckP** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:57 pm

I just checked mine and it is bad, indicator is red not green. This post could have saved a life. Guys, go out now and check yours NOW! Thank you!
Chuck

DaLa · Post by **DaLa** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:39 am

I purchased a nice paddling style life vest. It has pockets and such. The main thing is that it is designed for constant arm movement(paddling) and I barely know I am wearing it.

jitterbug · Post by **jitterbug** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:45 am

SOSpender brand units actualy have an expirastion date on the piece that causes the unit to activate automaticly. If you take it apart you will see a round donut looking ring. It will have a date on the side. These can not be bought separtly so you have to buy the whole reload kit. I found this out when two of my vest went off in the boat just sitting in the storage locker. I called the manufactuer and they had no reply when I ask why there was no mention of a date in the instructions. They sent me out five extra rings for 5 bucks each. This was cheaper than 30 for the kit.

drew · Post by **drew** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:04 am

I have two Sospender auto inflatables that are like new that I will sell for half price if anyone is interested. They need to be rearmed.

jimmy87 · Post by **jimmy87** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:24 am

I have one for sale too. it is missing the arming kit.

PM if interested

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:51 am

lets talk Drew. I might get the SOS from ya.

fishingj118 · Post by **fishingj118** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:23 pm

when i was at clear lake I layed my vest down on the seat , i turned around and seen the life vest just had went off lol the guy at the bait shop said if it is too hot it will go off , i was really pissed off

Caudawg · Post by **Caudawg** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:12 am

I've never seen or heard of a regular "vest style" PFD malfunction.

Vest style PFD's give you the added padding that may protect your ribs if you have a mishap.

While a "So-spenders style" vest DID help save my life during a high speed mishap, I have chosen to go back to a traditional vest style PFD.

I was lucky...and did not hit the gunwhale or console on the way out. Others have. That's enough for me.

Flippinjigs · Post by **Flippinjigs** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:58 pm

Team Fugowee wrote:A good reason to wear a real life jacket.

+1

Those ''G" string PFD are OK for fishing with. However they are not impact tested and in my opinion should not be used while running a boat 60 plus MPH. But something is better than nothing if that what you want to use. I just hope you never get tossed out of your boat at high rate of speed.

Be Safe & Good Fishin

bassbooger · Post by **bassbooger** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:55 pm

I wore an inflatable PFD for two years. Although it still had a green indicator, I decided to test it out, and rearm it. Inflated OK, but it soon started to deflate due to a pinhole leak on the vest. I've gone back to a conventional PFD.

Team Fugowee · Post by **Team Fugowee** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:23 pm

I use my Life Line jacket when I drive my Allison. I always keep another regular jacket because the LL isn't Coast Guard rated, just in case I do get checked. The LL will turn a body face up the others won't necessarily, they will usually keep the body upright but might be face down. The LL I have has panels in it for impact.
The ones we use for fishing have leg straps that stop the jacket from coming up your body. Actually more comfortable because the jacket stays down, instead of working it's way up around your neck as you run down the lake.